Carrying case type folding table



July 3, 1951 w. J. HOLT, JR

CARRYING CASE TYPE FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1949 INVENTOR.

July 3, 1951 w. J. HOLT, JR

CARRYING CASE TYPE FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1949 FIG. 3

Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to tables and more particularly to folding tables having means to cause the table legs to automatically fold and unfold in accordance with the folding and unfolding movements of foldable sections of the table top.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved folding table.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved folding table having legs which fold and unfold automatically in accordance with the folding and unfolding movements of the foldable sections of the table top.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved folding table provided with folding legs which are biased toward closed position by spring means and which are moved to unfolded position by the unfolding movement of the foldable sections of the table top.

It is another object of my invention to provifi: a new and improved folding table having folding legs which are locked in unfolded positio:: when the table top sections are moved into up. folded position.

It is still another object of my invention to provided a new and improved folding table having means to lock the table top and the table legs in unfolded position.

Briefly stated my new and improved table comprises a top having two foldable sections hinged-- 1y secured together and four legs hingedly r cured to the top. Each of the legs is provide' with an individual actuating means for folding and unfolding the legs in accordance with t? folding and unfolding movement of the foldable sections of the table top. Each of the actuating-2 means comprises a spring having one end secured. to the same section as the leg on which it as and having its other end secured to one arm of a double armed lever which is pivotally moun 1, ed on the same top section. The other arm the lever is slidingly engaged in a longitudina' slot in the associated leg, the spring and lever biasing the associated leg toward closed position. A flexible member is provided which has one en secured to the arm of the lever which engages the longitudinal slot and has the other end secured to the top section opposite to the top section to which the associated leg in hingedly secured so that opening movement of the sections about their hinge will pivot the lever against the action of the spring and cause the leg to move into unfolded position. Each flexible member is provided with an elastic section top which looks the legs and sections in up folded position.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, showing the table legs in unfolded position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the legs and part of one top section of the table shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line -3-3 of Figure 1 with some parts broken away and the top sections partly folded;

Figure 4 is bottom plan view of the table showing the legs of one section in folded position; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the table in its closed condition.

My new and improved folding table is provided with a top consisting of two sections Hi and H, Each of the sections it and I I comprises a frame member l2 having an intermediate portion I 3 and end portions [4 and 15 extending perpendicularly from the end of intermediate portion 13 and end portions Hi and i 5 extending perpendicularly from the ends of intermediate portion 83. Each of the frame members I2 comprises an outside strip [6 having an inwardly projecting flange I? located intermediate the edges of strip i 6 and extending perpendicularly from strip 25. Frame members !2 are formed preferably of metal, such as aluminum, and act as reinforcing and protecting means for the flat top members 58 and H which form the upper surface of the table. Top members l8 and I9 are formed of any suitable material, such as wood, and are secured to frame members l2 by any suitable means such as screws 20 which pass through -flange ll into top members It and Hi. It will be apparent that strips IB, whose upper edges will flush with the upper surface of top members it and I9, protect the edges of top members I8 and ill from chipping and act as reinforcing means for members l8 and I9.

Adjacent the corners of the table and secured to top members I8 and I9 by means of hinges 2% are hollow legs 22, 23, 24 and 25. Each of the hinges 21, Figure 2, comprises a fiat portion 25 which is secured to top member IE5 or H), as the case may be, by means of screws 2?. Pivotally secured to each fiat portion 26 by the conventional hinge means 28 is a bracket 29. Each bracket 29 comprises a curved portion 38 which extends perpendicularly from a fiat portion 3!. A pulley 32 is rotatably secured in each bracket 29 by means of a shaft journaled in the sides 34 and 35 of bracket 29. 'Each bracket 29 receivcs within the curved portion 35 the upper end of one of the legs 22 to 25. Each of the legs 22 to 25 is rigidly secured to a bracket 23 by means of a weld 36 or by any other suitable means.

Legs 22 and 23 are biased toward closed position by means of springs 31 and 38, respectively. Spring 31 has one end connected to top member I8 by means of a screw 39 or any other suitable means and the other end to a short arm 43 of a double armed lever M which is pivotally attached to top member I8 by means of a bracket 42. The long arm 43 of lever 4I is parallel to short arm 40 and terminates in an outward extension 44 which extends through a longitudinal slot 45 in leg 22. As lever M is pivoted to a position parallel to and adjacent top member I8, the extension 44 traveling in slot 45 will bear against leg 22 and cause leg 22 to pivot about hinge 2| and also move to a folded position parallel to and adjacent top member I8.

'In order to move leg 22 from its folded position adjacent top member I8 to the unfolded position illustrated in Figure 2, a flexible member 46 is provided, one of whose ends is secured to extension 44 in any suitable manner. Flexible member 46 extends through leg 22 and around pulley 32, and has its other end secured to one end of spring 41 whose other end is secured to the top member I9 by means of a flexible member 48. Flexible member 48 has one end secured to spring 41 and has the other end secured to top member I9 by means of a screw 48a, or by any other suitable means.

As illustrated in Figure 3, top members I8 and I9 are connected by means of a hinge 50 which is secured to adjacent side edges of top members I8 and I9 by means of screws 5|, or by any other suitable means. It will be noted that top members I8 and I 9 move about an axis determined by the position of hinge pin 52. The hinge 55 has its hinge pin 52 spaced from the bottoms of top members I8 and I9 for a purpose to be described below. Assuming that the table is in the closed position shown in Figure 5, spring 41 and flexible members 46 and 48 are completely free of tension. If the table sections I0 and II are moved away from each other about the hinge pin 52' of hinge 50, the flexible members 46 and 48 are gradually straightened. As leg 22 is in the position illustrated in Figure l, flexible member 46 will be brought into contact with the portion of side 34 of bracket 29 which is near flat portion 3|. Since side 34 extends diagonally from flat portion 3I to weld 36, flexible member 46 will slide along side 34 and will begin to move leg 22 from its folded position-and top sections II and I2 are moved away from each other. After leg 22 has been moved to a position where it makes an angle of about 30 with top member I8, flexible member 46 loses contact with side 34 and the remainder of the unfolding movement of leg 22 is accomplished by the force exerted on extension 44 by flexible member 46 which causes lever 4| to move pivotally away from top member I8 against the tension of spring 31. During this movement extension 44 moves in slot 45 until it contacts the end of slot 45 nearest weld 36. At this point leg 22 has reached its fully open position but top sections II and I2 are not yet fully open as is shown in Figure 3.

During the above described movements of the actuating elements of leg 22, spring 41 was not stretched. Further opening'movement of top sections II and I2 about hinge pin 52 however will cause spring 41 to be stretched since extension 44 is now in contact with the end of the slot 45 nearest weld 36 and leg 22 is in its fully open position. It will be noted that the distance from securing means 48a to the point of contact of flexible member 45 with pulley 32 is greatest when hinge pin 52 is directly in line between securing means 48a and the point of contact of flexible member 46 with pulley 32. Spring 41 will therefore be stretched to its greatest length as flexible member 48 passes hinge pin 52 and thereafter will contract since the distance between securing means 48a and the point of contact of flexible means 46 and pulley 32 will decrease with further opening movement of sections II and I2. Spring 41 will therefore act as a locking means to maintain sections III and II and leg 22 in their open positions since closing movement of sections II and I2 will tend to stretch spring 41 and will be resisted by spring 41.

Legs 23, 24 and 25 are provided with identical leg actuating and locking means which function in exactly the same manner as the actuating and locking means associated with leg 22 and they will therefore not be described in detail. Leg 23 is provided with leg biasing spring 38 connected to a double armed lever 53 which connects with leg 23, and flexible members 54 and 55 connected by locking spring 56. Leg 24 is provided with biasing spring 51, double armed lever 58, and flexible members 59 and 60 connected by locking spring 6|. Leg 25 is provided with biasing spring 62, double armed lever 63, and flexible members 64 and 65 connected by locking spring 66.

Legs 22 and 23 of section II are transversely spaced with respect to section I I in order to allow legs 22 and 23 to lie parallel to and adjacent top member I8 and each other. Similarly, legs 24 and 25 are transversely spaced with respect to section I0. During folding and unfolding movements, legs 22 to 25 must be so positioned at all times with respect to each other that one will not interfere with the movement of the other. The time at which each leg 22 to 25 begins to fold or unfold is determined by the combined length of its flexible members and its locking spring. For example, the combined length of flexible members 45 and 48 and locking spring 41 is shorter than the combined length of flexible members 59 and 60 and locking spring- 6| of leg 24. As sections II and I2 are moved from closed to open position, the flexible members 46 and 41 and spring 48 will be subjected to tension before the corresponding elements of leg 24 are subjected to tension and therefore flexible member 46 will come in contact with side 34 of the bracket 29 associated with leg 22 before flexible element 59 comes in contact with side 34 of the bracket 29 associated with leg 24. Leg 22 will start to move to unfolded position before leg 24 begins to move to unfolded position. The converse will be true during movement of sections I4 and I I from open position to closed position. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, leg 22 is the first leg to begin to unfold, leg 24 the second, leg 25 the third, and 23 the fourth. The legs 22 to 25 begin to fold in the reverse order.

Sections 10 and II may be provided with handles 69 and 10 so that the table may easily carried when it is in the position illustrated in Figure 5.

In operation, the table is opened by grasping sections Ill and II and opening the table against the resistance of biasing springs 31, 38, 51 and 62 and also against the resistances of locking springs 41, 56, GI and 66 during the period when flexible members 48, 55, 60 and 64 move past hinge pin 52. The table is then looked in open position by the locking springs. When it is desired to close the table, it is picked up and sections I and II are given a sharp closing push toward each other. The sharp closing push causes sufficient pivotal movement of sections I0 and II about hinge pin 52 to move flexible members 48, 55, 60 and 64 to move past hinge pin 52. Further closing movement of sections I0 and I I will be aided by biasing springs 41, 55, BI and 66 until the closing movement progresses to the point where flexible members 48, 55, 60 and 64 are freed from tension. The remainder of the closing movement to the closed position of sections I0 and I I is effected by pushing the sections it] and II toward each other.

It will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated folding table. The hinge 50 preferably extends along the whole length of the sections I0 and II in order to provide a table of maximum strength and rigidity. It is necessary, however, to provide two notches 61 and 58 in hinge 50 to receive flexible members 48 and D, and 55 and 6 5, respectively. Two or more separate hinges may be employed in place of hinge 50 if it is so desired. Biasing springs 31, 38, 51 and 52 could be attached directly to legs 22 to 25 if it were so desired and in this case the arm 40 on lever could be dispensed with. Springs 31, 38, 5'! and 62 could be eliminated if it were so desired by using spring biased hinges of conventional design instead of the hinges 2| shown. By providing biasing springs which would allow a certain amount of movement of legs 22 to 25 when the legs are in folded position, the coaction of flexible members 46, 54, 59 and 65 with the sides 34 of brackets 29 would not be necessary. In this case, the action of gravity would bring legs 22 to 25 to partly open position and direct action of the flexible members on levers 4| would complete the unfolding movement of legs 22 to 25.

All flexible members employed in the illustrated embodiment of my invention are made of steel cable to provide maximum strength and durability but it will be obvious that they may be of any non-elastic material. Legs 22 to 25 may be made of sheet stock folded and bent into the desired shape or may be made of tubular members such as pipe or the like.

While I have described and shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made in the illustrated embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit and. scope of my invention and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A folding table comprising a pair of hingedly connected top sections, leg members pivotally mounted adjacent to the outer corner portions of each top section so as to fold parallel to each other and to the side of the top section on which they are mounted opposite the hinged side thereof; individual biasing means for each leg, each of said biasing means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on one top section on which its associated leg is mounted and a spring having one end secured to said one top section and the other secured to said lever to bias said lever to a position parallel to and adjacent said one top section, said lever having one end in engagement with said associated leg for biasing said leg toward folded position; and individual opening and lockin means for each leg, each of said biasing means comprising a flexible member having one end secured to said one end of said lever and having the opposite end secured to the other of said top sections for moving said associated leg to its unfolded position.

2. A folding table comprising two top sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges and pivoting about an axis spaced from the bottom of said top sections; two legs pivotally mounted on each of said sections on axis at right angles to the axis on which said sections are pivotally connected together and each adapted to be folded parallel to and along the bottom side of the section on which it is mounted; individual biasing means associated with each leg, for biasing said legs toward closed position, each of said biasing means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the bottom side of the section on which its associated leg is pivotally mounted, said lever pivoting about an axis parallel to the pivoting axis of its associated leg, and a biasing spring secured to said lever and to the section on which its associated leg is mounted for biasing said lever toward a position parallel to and adjacent the section on which it is mounted, said lever having an end engaging said associated leg for moving said associated leg to folded position; and individual leg unfolding and locking means operatively associated with each leg. each unfolding and locking means comprising a flexible member having one end secured to the end of its associated lever which engages its associated leg and the other end secured to the top section on which said associated lever is not mounted, a pulley rotatably mounted adjacent the end of said associated leg which is proximate to the top section on which said associated leg is mounted, said flexible member passing from said end of said lever and around said pulley, said flexible member being provided with an elastic section intermediate its ends for lookng said leg in unfolded position when said flexible member is carried past the axis about which said top sections are pivoted and toward the bottoms of said top sections.

3. A folding table comprising two top sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges and pivoting about an axis spaced from the bottoms of said top sections; two legs pivotally mounted on each of said sections on axes at right angles to the axis on which said sections are pivotally connected together and each adapted to be folded parallel to and along the bottom side of the section on which it is mounted; individual biasing means associated with each leg for biasing said legs toward closed position, each of said biasing means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the same top section as its associated leg and adapted to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis about which its associated leg pivots, said associated leg being provided with an elongated slot, said lever having an end portion disposed parallel to the top section on which said lever is mounted and engaging in said slot, and elastic means having member having its one end secured to said lever and the other end secured to the top section on which said lever is mounted for maintaining a continuous force on said lever to bias said associated leg toward folded position; and individual leg opening and lockin means, each of said leg opening and locking means comprising a pulley mounted adjacent the end of the associated leg and adapted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the axis about which said associated le pivots, said pulley moving with said associated leg as it pivots, and a flexible member having one end secured to said end portion of said lever and passing through said associated leg and around said pulley, said flexible member having its other end secured to the top section opposite the top section on which said associated leg is mounted, said flexible member being provided with an elastic section intermediate its end for locking said leg and top sections in unfolded position when said flexible member is carried past the axis about which said top sections are pivoted and toward the bottoms of said top sections.

4. A folding table comprising two top sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges and pivoting about an axis spaced from the bottoms of said top sections; two legs pivotally mounted on each of said top sections on axes at right angles to the axis about which said top sections pivot each leg being adapted to be folded parallel to and along the bottom side of the section on which it is mounted, each of said legs being provided with a longitudinal slot; individual biasing means operatively associated with each leg and the top section on which each leg is mounted for biasing said legs toward closed position; and individual leg opening and locking means, each leg opening and locking means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the same top section as its associated leg for movement about an axis parallel to the axis about which said associated leg pivots, said lever having an outwardly extending end engaging in said slot of its associated leg, and a flexible member having one end secured to said outwardly extending end and passing around said pulley, said flexible other end secured to the top section opposite the top section on which said associated leg is mounted, said flexible member being provided with an elastic section intermediate its ends for locking said leg and top sections in unfolded position when said flexible member is carried past the axis about which said top sections are pivoted and toward the bottoms of said sections.

5. A folding table comprising two top sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges and pivoting about an axis spaced from the bottoms of said top sections; two legs pivotally mounted on each of said top sections for movement about axes at right angles to the axis about which said top sections pivot, each leg being adapted to be folded parallel to and along the bottom side of the section on which it is mounted; individual biasing means operatively associated with each leg and the top section on which each leg is mounted for biasing said legs toward closed position; and individual opening and locking means operatively associated 'with'each leg and the top section opposite the top section on which each leg is mounted.

6. A folding table comprising two top sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges and pivoting about an axis spaced from the bottoms of said top sections; two legs for biasing each of said legs toward closed position; and individual opening and locking means for each leg, each of said openin and locking means comprising a flexible member operatively connected to one of said legs and the top section opposite to the top section on which said one of said legs is mounted for pivotally moving said one of said legs to open position when said top sections are moved to open position, said flexible member being provided with an elastic section intermediate its ends for locking said leg and said top sections in unfolded position when said flexible member is carried past the axis about which said top sections are pivoted and toward the bottoms of said sections.

7. The folding table of claim 6 in which said flexible member of each of said opening and lock ing means differs in length from the flexible members of the other opening and locking means.

8. A folding table comprisin two top sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side'edges and pivoting about an axis spaced from the bottoms of said top sections; two legs pivotally mounted on each of said top sections for movement about axes at right angles to the axis about which said top sections pivot, each leg being adapted to be folded parallel to'and along the bottom side of the section on which it is mounted; individual biasing means operatively associated with each of said legs and the top section on which each of said legs is mounted for biasing-each of said legs toward closed position; and individual leg opening and locking means operatively associated with each leg, each of said opening and locking means comprising a leg holding means comprising a bracket having substantially parallel sides and a curved portion in which one end of its associated leg is received, a pulley pivotally mounted between said sides for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis about which said top sections pivot, a lever pivotally mounted on the same top section as said associated leg for movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis about which said top sections pivot, said lever having one end operatively associated with said associated leg for moving said associated leg about its pivotal axis, and a flexible member havin one end secured to said one end of said lever and having its other end secured to the top sections opposite the top section on which said associated leg is mounted, said flexible member passing around said pulley, said flexible member moving said leg. to unfolded position as said top sections are moved to unfolded position, said flexible member locking said associated leg and said top sections in unfolded position as it is carried past the axis about which said top sections are pivoted and toward the bottoms of said top sections.

9. The folding table of claim 8 in which said flexible member is adapted to contact one of said sides of said bracket to initiate unfolding movement of said associated leg when said top sections are moved to open position.

10. The folding table of claim 8 in which said flexible member of each of said leg opening and locking means differs in length from the flexible members of the other leg opening and locking REFERENCES CITED means.

11. The folding table of claim 10 in which said & ii f; are the flexible member is adapted to contact one of said sides of said bracket to initiate unfolding move- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ment of said associated leg when said top sections Number Name Date ar m v d t p position. 1,684,653 Willett Sept. 1a, 1928 WIL J HOLT, R- 2,167,342 York July 25, 1939 

